Across the province brave souls will be ill begin their New Year today by plunging into freezing oceans, lakes and rivers.
Of special note, the Peninsula Celebrations Society will celebrate the start of 2017 with an icey dip at noon in Sidney -- which is also celebrating 50 years as a town.
Swimmers will gather at the beach access at Lochside Dr. and Weiler Ave.
And in Sooke the polar bear swim is raising funds for Scout Canada's Camp Bernard. That one goes from 2 to 3 pm at 3202 Young Lake Rd.
Proceeds will help pay for repairs, maintenance qand development at the camp.
People with heart conditions should stay out of the water and cheeri participants on instead. And of course -- children should be accomnpanied by adults while they're in the water.